Lets reset a bit on our project. We are starting to look at building an app that will be able to run on iOS, Android and Windows. There are a couple of ways to doing this, natively or cross platform approach. If we were to build a native app for 3 platforms we would have to code in 3 different languages and use 3 different IDE’s. (Not counting a tool like Xamarin). We are also looking at the multiple stack developer who has a lot of “web” knowledge. They know how to build web apps and their skills can translate well to this cross platform development. We will be using HTML and JavaScript to build this app. Most importantly, we will be using Visual Studio to create our cross platform app.

The app can be anything, but in this example it is a drink recipe app. Categories -> Results -> Details. That is the flow of our app. We will be using a theme from Bootstrap to make it look pretty and responsive for multiple screen sizes. AngularJS will be our JavaScript MVC Framework for the back-end. We left off with a basic “barebones” app structure that we will build upon.

Lets Begin

I’m excited to announce my next tutorial series of adding SoundCloud API to an App Studio project. We look at creating the app out on App Studio as well as different options to integrate SoundCloud into the app. Over the next few weeks I am going to explore adding the SoundCloud services into an app generated by Windows Phone App Studio. If you do not know what Windows Phone App Studio is, you can view the site or follow my tutorials to get you up to speed. In short, it is an online tool to quickly generate Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 apps. You are provided with the source code and have the ability to extend your generated app. Read more “Add SoundCloud to your App Studio Project”

I am partnering with one of the universities near me to perform a few workshops to build a Windows Phone App to control an arduino robot via Bluetooth. I recently built an universal app that communicated to an arduino board to perform a little trivia game. It was fun and straightforward. I am bringing most of that underlying code over to controlling a robot. Here is what I got so far:

It is easy when you are a large company to employ a technology department or hire an outside consulting firm to build you a mobile app. It is more difficult if you are a startup or small business. At times, the startups and small businesses do not have the luxury to outsource a build for an app. Even more, they might not have the time to do it. So how does a startup or small business build an app with no time, no money and little effort?

If you followed my Windows Phone App Studio tutorial then you are well on your way to become an app developer. Windows Phone App Studio makes it easy to create an app for the WindowsPhone. But why not take that great app idea and make it available for more devices my making it a Windows 8 application. PC’s and Tablets can enjoy your app as well. Check out this video to see how you can enable your phone app to work across multiple devices.

Windows App Studio is an online tool that allows users to create Windows Phone and Windows 8 applications in a drag and drop environment. You can create simple fan type apps that consume resource from blogs or social sites like YouTube or Instagram or you can get a little fancier by using Data Collections. If you are real courageous you can export your project and have the full source code. Be sure to visit my tutorial to get some in depth help on using App Studio.

In the past few days the site and tool has been updated with new features and training options.

When you start building applications or games at some point you are going to run into the question “Where do I save data?”. Some apps can keep data locally but if the app or game wants any viral or social activity then a central data store will be needed at some point. There are plenty of ways to go about doing that but today I am going to touch briefly on Azure Mobile Services and Construct 2. Read more “Microsoft Azure and Construct 2”

I decided to take on a project that involves creating a Windows Universal App that communicates to an Arduino device via Bluetooth. I found a blog post (thanks Channel 9) and used the Arduino Sketch to get going but modified it to include 2-way communication. The sketch accepts input from the Windows device but also sends data based on push buttons.

When Philip Hooker, owner of a consulting company in Farmington CT called Acellan, purchased a new Windows 8 computer he did not know what it would spark.

Philip was a programmer by that was fluent in Java but has a background in design when he attended Kenyon College in Ohio. Philip was interested in the new UI/UX design that the Windows platform championed and decided he would start looking into building apps for Windows.

My newest app has jus made it to the Windows Store. It is called Gifs N Giggles. The app is powered by Giphy.com and utilizes its repository of animated gifs for you enjoyment.

My first release is just consuming the Giphy API to show the top trending and most recent gifs. There is a feature called “Make me Giggle”, which will get a random gif. Sharing is done via the Windows charms bar for now.

My next release will add some for features. I am thinking of adding a meme generator, like and dislike functions, rating/ranking and more.

I am using the MVP (minimum viable product) approach to get a product in the market, test and gather feedback and iterate on it.